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Re: Presidential Address on NSA Data Collection

Originally Posted by Lachean

I means, "we know you the people don't like this, but tough ****. This is more about placating Andrea Merkel than honoring my oath to defend and uphold the constitution. Because I can detain any citizen indefinitely without due process... but there sure are a lot of foreigners who don't like this."

An, "foreigners are the good guys, afterall".

Originally Posted by Top Cat

At least Bill saved his transgressions for grown women. Not suggesting what he did was OK. But he didn't chase 14 year olds.

Re: Presidential Address on NSA Data Collection

Originally Posted by a351

A competent intelligence community requires a certain degree of insulation from the general public for the most obvious of reasons.

That was not provided for in the Constitution. Any warrant issued with probably cause can be issued by any court in the land. Any warrant issued by any court without probably cause is unconstitutional and therefore illegal. That is the entire crux of the Snowden issue. There was no probably cause for the government to be violating the privacy of American citizens.

Your comment is perfectly reasonable regarding non US citizens on foreign soil. But US citizens on US soil are protected by the Constitution of the United States and cannot be subject to search and seizure without probably cause. It is written plainly in the Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution:

The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.